Allergies Common Treatments An Overview of Generic Allergy Medicines By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and currently practices at Central Coast Allergy and Asthma in Salinas, California. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 14, 2021 Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD LinkedIn Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is board-certified in allergies/immunology, with a focus on allergic skin disorders. She is a part-time assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Allergy medicine can get expensive. Fortunately, many medications are available in generic form, which typically translates to a lower cost. When a medication loses its patent, other companies are free to market the medication in a generic form. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration has approved many allergy medicines for over-the-counter (OTC) use. If you suffer from allergies, talk to your healthcare provider about the right medications for treating your symptoms. Terry Vine / Blend Images / Getty Images Antihistamines An allergy is an immune response to substances that are not usually harmful. In people with allergies, an overly sensitive immune response releases a chemical known as histamine that causes allergy symptoms. Antihistamines relieve these symptoms. Antihistamines are available both OTC and by prescription. Most health insurance companies cover some or all of the cost of prescription medicines, but do not pay for OTC drugs. OTC Antihistamines Brand Name Generic Name Allegra Fexofenadine Benadryl Diphenhydramine Chlor-Trimeton Chlorpheniramine Clarinex Desloratadine Claritin Loratadine Tavist Clemastine Xyzal Levocetirizine Zyrtec Cetirizine Prescription Antihistamines Brand Name Generic Name Vistaril Hydroxyzine Allergy Nasal Sprays For people whose primary allergy symptom is rhinitis, nasal sprays can provide effective relief of congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and other irritating symptoms. Nasal spray formulations can include antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, mast cell inhibitors, or a combination of different classes of medications. OTC Nasal Sprays Brand Name Generic Name Afrin Oxymetazoline Flonase Fluticasone propionate Nasalide Flunisolide Nasacort AQ Triamcinolone acetonide Nasalcrom Cromolyn sodium Patanase Olopatadine Rhinocort Budesonide Sensimist Fluticasone furoate Veramyst Fluticasone furoate Prescription Nasal Sprays Brand Name Generic Name Astelin/Astepro Azelastine Nasonex Mometasone furoate monohydrate Omnaris Ciclesonide Q-Nasl Beclomethasone diproprionate Zetonna Ciclesonide Xhance Fluticasone propionate Allergy Eye Drops For itchy, watery, red, or irritated eyes, many allergy sufferers find quick relieve with eye drops. Allergy eye drops are available OTC or by prescription as brand names and generics, and may include antihistamines, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or combination formulas. OTC Eye Drops Brand Name Generic Name Alaway Ketotifen fumarate Claritin Eye Ketotifen fumarate Naphcon-A Naphazoline/pheniramine Opcon-A Naphazoline/pheniramine Refresh Eye Ketotifen fumarate Visine A Naphazoline/pheniramine Zaditor Ketotifen fumarate Prescription Eye Drops Brand Name Generic Name Opticrom Cromolyn Vasocon A Antazoline/naphazoline A Word From Verywell When it comes to getting the best price for medications, it can help to shop around. For many insurance policies, generic-brand medicines are preferred over name-brand prescriptions, and your out-of-pocket costs will be lower. Check with your pharmacist about prices or use an online source like GoodRx.com that compares prices at different locations in your area. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Antihistamines for allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. AAAAI allergy & asthma medication guide. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Nasal sprays. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Eye drops. Additional Reading Association for Accessible Medicines. 2017 Generic Drug Access and Savings in the U.S. Report. Food and Drug Administration. Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers. June 1, 2018. By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and currently practices at Central Coast Allergy and Asthma in Salinas, California. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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